Method of and apparatus for desiccating liquids



` C. 0. LAVET METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DESIGCATING LIQUIDS Fild oct. es, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 /N VENTO/e,

$46 A TTU/UVE y.

Aug. 311, 19,26.

C. O. LAVETT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DESCCTING LQUIDS Filed Oct. e, 1921 2 Sheets-sheet `2 I 3 w X /f 2@ 55g@ A Hole/VE y.

Patented Aug. 31, 19276.

UNITED retenir oler!en.N

CHARLES O. LVETT, OF BUFFALO, NEW? YORK, ASSGNOR T0 CHEMICAL Vkga VACUUM `MACHI N`-ERY C0. l-NO, 'OF BUFFALO, NEW' YORK, ACBPORATGNOF NEW`YORK.

METHOD LOF AND APEARTS FOR DESCCATNG--LIQUIDS.

Application filed ctober `6, 1921. 4Serial No. 595,773.

This invention relates to the desiccation of the solid content of liquids and has for its principal objects not only the reduction in cost and size of the yapparatus required for such purpose and :the more economical and effective evaporation of the volatile con stituents of the product being treated, `-but also the improvement in the quality of the desiccated product.

ln order to .desiccatea the solid content of liquids, it is .now recognized that it is more desirable as well as more economical to previously concentrate the liquid and then deliver the same to the vevaporating surface, such for example -as the drum dryer, in order 'that `such liquids may be in as concentrated al form. as is practical and thereby increase .the capacity of the drying surface by carrying a heavier .film and at. the same .time decrease to a `minimum `the time during which the materials are subjected to a relatively high temperature. Therefore it is customary in the case of liquids containing a low ,percentage of solids, such for example as lacteal liquids, various extracts etc., to first evaporate or `concentrate such liquids tothe desired density in an evaporating apparatus-this constitutes the first stepzand then effect the transfer 'of the concentrate to the drying apparatus wherein the solids are reduced to a substantially dry state at the same or somewhat higher temperature as compared with the prior evaporating .step-and 1this latter constitutes the second step of such process.

My investigations have led to the discovery that by combining, or what might be more properly termed intimately associating, .the customary evaporation step with the nal desiccation step, l am Iable to not only improve the product obtained, particularly when operating on albuminiferous liquids such for example as eggs, milk {whole and skimmed) buttermilk, maltedmilk and like lacteal liquids, but to effect economies in the process and in the equipment required which are very considerable. ln fact one of the chief obstacles to the more general installation of vacuum drum dryers at creameries, which are usually located at milk collect-ing centers, has been the high cost of installing both an exaporating pan and a separate vacuum drum cryer of suiiicient capacity to handle Athat portion ofthe creamery output which it was desired ato desiccate.

While my invention is not confined solely to operations which require the @employ- 'ment of a vacuum in the drying apparatus,

but isequa-lly applicable for operations which are conducted at atmospheric ror super-et mospheric pressure, nevertheless, I preferably employ vacuum .drum dryers owing to the low production cost therein, as well as the excellence Vof the product which l am able to thereby produce and accordingly as a preferred example of my invention l have described a method and apparatus intended for operation under sub-:atmospheric conditions.

My invention is fully set forth in `detail.

in the following description and the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in whichf Fig. l is a vertical transverse sectionof an apparatus adapted to operate under suba'tmospheric conditions, which is Asuitable for carrying out my improved method as herein described and 1 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section aleng the line fc-y of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings and the fcon struction shown therein the reference numeral l designates the cylindrical outer lcasing of a drum dryer within which is mounted a hollow drum 2, the latter being journalled in suitable bearings in the respective hea-ds of said casing `3, 3 in a well known manner. A doctor blade or knife i mounted on a holder 5 is pivotally mounted on brackets 6, secured to and projecting inwardly from the said casing l, the angle and tension of said doctor or knife `being controlled eX- ternally by means of hand-wheels 7. A conveyor 8, which is positioned adjacent to the bottom of a trough v9, serves to conduct desiccated material, removed from said drum by the doctor or knife, through either conduits l0 or ll that project through the respective easing heads. Preferably said conveyor is operated by means of a chain which engages with a sprocket wheel 12 or i in any other suitable manner. The casing l is provided with a relativel large aperture 13 to permit of the insertion therein of' a casing 14, the latter constituting either a single effect evaporator or the last effect of a multiple effect evaporator or concentrator. The said concentrator includes a plurality of tubes 15, which are rigidly mounted in spaced relation to each other in said casing 14 and project through it heads 16, 16. The tubes 15 are provided with removable continuation or extension tubes 17, held in place by stop 18 and rods 19, in such a manner that the same may be easily removed in sections and taken out for cleaning through opening A.

n intake or inlet 2O serves to admit steam to the chamber within said casing containing said tubes and a condensate outlet 21 permits the escape of the water of condensation from said casing through the bypass 21, the steam trap 21 or condenser 21m and Vacuum pump 21 as required.

A supplemental doctor or blade 22, mounted on bell-crank levers 23, pivotally secured to casing heads 3, 3 and controlled externally by means of handwheels 24, serves to regu- Alate the thickness of the coating carried up on said drum, as it rotates in the direction of the arrow, and any surplus removed by said latter doctor falls into the bottom of said drying chamber from which point it is conveyed by a downtake conduit 25, to the chamber 26 at the bottom of said evaporator and in communication withsaid tubes 15. A liquid inlet conduit 27 admits liquid to p be dried to a liquid level control device 28,

whence it passes to the said chamber 26 and then rises up within the tubes 15.

Adjustable deflectors 29, 29 are mounted directly in the path of the liquid and vapors which issue from said tubes 15, the same being mounted in suitable bearings on said casing heads 3, 3 and controlled externally by means of levers 30, 30. These deliectors divert the course of the liquid and vapors that are projected from said evaporator in such a manner as to indirectly throw the same against the drum surface while at the same time the surplus liquid which does notadhere to said drum or which is deflected by the deflectors will drain into the bottom portion of the drying chamber adjacent to the aforesaiddown-take tube.

An inlet or intake B, serves to admit steam to the drum. Within said drum and attached to the same is provided a scoop 31, which communicates through a pipe 32 with the hollow7 journal 33 of said drum and thereby permits the condensate to be dis-v charged through steam trap 34 or condenser 34 and vacuum pump 34 as required.

A vapor outlet 35 is in communication with a cylindrical separator 36 that is connected througlrthe outlet thereof to a condenser and vacuum pumpas usual. Solids carried over with the vapors issuing from the drying chamber will lbe separated from the vapor -by actual Contact with the inner surface of the separator 36 by expansion and reduced velocity of the vapor due to the, large increase of area of the separator. turned to said drying chamber through conduit 37.

rI'he operation of the aforesaid apparatus, as is evident from the construction above described, is as follows:

Assuming for example that it is desired to produce desiccated skim milk, the casing 1 is first evacuated, the milk is then conveyed directly from the storage tank or supply through pipe 27 and the liquid level control 2S to the chamber 26 at the lower end of concentrator tubes and allowed to rise in said tubes 15 to about one third the height thereof. The drum is started in the direction of the arrow and steam of the desired pressure and temperature admitted through inlet B, the condensed steam formed being taken care of by pump 34, after first passing through condenser 34. The temperature of the heating medium inside of drum 2, is controlled by regulating the steam supply by means of suitable throttle and regulating valves and the speed of the pump 34 as well as by therqua-ntity of cooling water entering' condenser 34. Steam of the desired temperature and suflicient to effect the violent ebullition of the milk is then admitted to the steam chest around said tubes 15 and the condensed steam taken care of by trap 21 or vacuum pump 21 as required. IThe milk, owing to ebullition thereof,` will creep upwards higher and higher in said tubes, vaporizing part of its moisture in passing over the heating surface, rapidly increasing in velocity until projected from the upper end of said tubes and against the surface of the revolving drum 2. Preferably, as stated, the deflectors 29, 29 are employed so as to divert the vapors and liquid issuingvfrom said tubes away from `the drum until the desired concentration is attained, with the consequence that ythe liquid will work through the conduit 25 until such time as the angle of the deflectors is adjusted to permit of the concentrated liquid impinging directly against the -surface of the drum. Any surplus liquid not clinging to the drum will immediately drop to the bottom of the 'drying chamber and find its way through. the down-take couduit 25 to chamber 26 where it will again mix with the continuously incoming fresh milk to be concentrated. The concentrated milk which has been projected upon said drum will be carried upwardly in a film of regulated thickness in the direction indicated by the arrow and, prior to a complete revolu-l Liquid thus collected willr be ret from whence it is discharged from said casing through the conduits l() and 11 into suitable receivers ln certain instances, such for example as when drying viscous or sticky materials, a suitable disintegrator may if desired be interposed directly below the knife in order to brealr up the lilm as itdrops on to the conveyer or a single receiver without the conveyor may be used.

For materials extremely sensitive to heat I provide small `vacuum pumps 21 and 34 and condenser 2l and 34 for maintaining` a partial vacuum inside ofdrum 2 and lcasing le respectively7 thereby instantly reducing the temperature of the steam introduced to the temperature, desired, by simply maintaining the proper vacuum. Villiers the temperature of steam at or above atmospheric pressure is too high, reduced steam pressure can be used advantageously and is superior and more el'licient than using hot water as a heating medium and as a result very delicate materials can he dryed successfully and economically by this method. A small amount of cooling water enters condenser 34, at E and is discharged with the steam condensate from the drum at F.

l have also provided a small vacuum pump 21 and its associated condenser 21 for controllin' the density of the concentrated solution by varying the temperature of the steam in steam chest or casing l-l, the steam condensate passing through steam trap 2l or pump 21"" as required. llhen using condenser 21', a small amount of water may be introduced at 38, which will be discharged withthe condensed steam at 39.

rlhe liquid in the evaporator tubes will inevitably be carried upward by the entrained vapors, since they latter, owing to their lighter specific gravity, will move faster than the liquid and will tend to crowd the liquid towards the inner walls of said tubes with the result that a film of the latter will creep or climb upwardly, while rapidly evaporating in transit, until they emerge together with the vapor at the upper end of said tubes from which, as stated, it `will be projected upon said drum.

ln those cases where a very dense dry product or a thick film is required, itis sometimes advantageous to deliver the liquid to the drum at a plurality 'off points in order to build up a coating of desired thickness on the drum' surface and accordingly in such cases a series of concentrators may be arranged to project liquid at different points along the vperiphery of said drum.

lt is apparent from the foregoing that as re t of my invention it is possible,` as hercinuefore ste-ted, to intimately associate, as continuous steps,.the evaporation c: so et the drum is accomplished much more effectively than in' those cases where a body of milk is gradually caused to flow into contact with the drum or thedrum is caused to move into Contact with a body of liquid in the bottom of the drying chamber. This ',"iesponds to the phenomenon of the dis- )tion of liquid when projected from a tance 'to a hot stove.

llfhile l have described my invention l do not intend to limit the .saine to precise forni as sho-rn on the drawing and it is understood that the equipment can be used for iseparating liquids or fused products into two parts by evaporation, concentration, or distillation and furthermore that my inventiouis not limited to any particular product.

The' diameter length and proper angle of tubes var-y with different products. lVhen permissible the concentrator lll will extend through casing l to within the proper distance from drum 2 eliminating the necessity for extending the same, although from a sanitary standpoint this is advisable.

ltlhen desi/eating milk under an external baro ietric pressure vof 30"', it is desirable to maintain a vacuum in the drying chainber vof 26 to 28". The heating Amedium l preferably employ is vlive steam n iniaal pressure of 10 to 30 lbs. and Vh is subjected iu the drum to a vacuum corr spending to l to 15" but preferably W f' mercury. The speed of thedrum is nlm is exposed a maximum of about` 30 to seconds to the heating' medium. lllhen drying albumen the livesteam aforesaid is subjected in the drum to a vacuum of between l0 to l5 whereas when drying pepsin it is desirable that the said live steam `be subjected yin the drurgi to a vacuum of 10"- to l2.

he products produced by -my improved proflress in the form of powder, flakes iin` water so as to lbe a liquid closely approxin flavor, appearance and emu scales .vhich are remarkably solu-v ral liquid from which lill() lli) they Were prepared. In the case of fresh milk, owing to the absence of exposure to heated air, the A, B and C vitamines are not destroyed but are present in the finished product.

My improved process is particularly suitable for the drying not only of milk but of blood-albumen, egg-albumen, pepsin and like materials which are sensitive to heat since such materials are rendered partially insoluble or non-emulsifiable if desiccated even in a vacuum by the employment of saturated steanr or super-heated steam Whereas by my process particularly When employing a vacuum of O to 20 Within the drum and approximately '26 to 28 in the evaporating chamber, I am able by the employment of live steam to effect'a rapid exchange of heat which results in the rapid condensation of the steam Within the drum and its continuous replacement upon removal of the latter condensate by a fresh supply of steam.

I/Vhen employing steam under reduced pressure, as above described7 it is of course essential to maintain the partial vacuum in theJ steam space of the evaporator and also in the drum at reasonably constant pressures, and to accomplish this either a small \vet'(sic. liquid) vacuum pump to the steam outlet in order to effect the continuous removal of the condensate or Aif, preferred such pump can be dispensed With and the equipment can be so located as to maintain a constant predetermined head of liquid condensate in a discharge pipe Which has its lower end projecting into a tank or hot Well, Vhen the Wet pump is employed, a small cold-Water line is preferably connected directly to the pump section so as to inject a regulated quantity of vapor-condensing liquid thereinto and thereby a more perfect sealing of the pump valves Will be effected by the small amount of vapor condensed, a higher vacuum can be maintained and a better circulation of the steam Will be created.

lVhile preferably the rods 19 are released by merelv removing pins 19 so as to admit of the removal of the extension Atubes 17 upon turning the stop plate 1 8 so that it is out of engagement with the suplemental head 16, nevertheless Without departing from the spirit of my invention the evap oratortube may be continuous instead of sectional or other means mav be provided for permitting of the ready cleaning thereof. The aforesaid construction, however, is ex- .tremely simple and convenient.

Having `thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A method of desiccating liquids Which comprises the operation of inspissating the liquid to the desired consistency by heating the same While in a confined state so that the liquid Will be projected from its confinement by the vapors generated therein during such confinement, and causing the inspissated liquid projected to be delivered directly against a moving heated surface and a part of the same to be dried thereon. f

2. `A method of desiccalting liquids Which comprises the operation of inspissating the liquid to thedesired consistency by heating the same While in a confined state so that the liquid will be projected from its confinement by the vapors generated Ktherein during such confinement, and causing the inspissated liquid projected to be delivered directly against a moving heated surface and a part of the same to be dried thereon Without interrupting the flow of the same.

3. A method of desiccating liquids which comprises the operation of inspissating the liquid'to the desired consistency by heating the same while in a confined state so that the liquid Will be projected from its confinement by the vapors generated therein during such confinement, causing the inspissated liquid projected to be delivered directly against a moving heated surface and a part of the same to be dried thereon, and effecting a return of a portion of the evolved inspissated liquid and again subjecting the same to the effects of heat While under confinement.

4. An apparatus for desiccating liquids, comprising a main casing enveloping an evaporating chamber. means for lmaintaining a vacuum in said chamber, a rotatable drum mounted in said chamber, meansy for supplying a heating Huid to said druma concentrator, including al plurality of removable tubes, supported by said casing and arranged to Vdischarge inspissated liquid into said chamber and directly' against said drum', means for deflecting the inspissated liquid away from said drum and returning the same to the end of said tubes distant from said drum, and closure means for permitting of optional access to said casing to permit of cleaning thereof.

5. In an apparatus for desiccating liquids comprising a vacuum dryer having an enclosing casing adaptedy to be connected with an exhausting device and a rotary drum arranged Within said casing and adapted to be heated internally, and an inspissator comprising a casing connected with that of said dryer and a plurality of tubes arranged Within said last mentioned casing and adapted to receive the liquid to be desiccated and having their outlet ends arranged adjacent to thek exterior of said drum and adapted to deliver the inspissated liquid directly upon said drum.

6. In an apparatus for desiccating liquids comprising a vacuum dryer having an enclosing casing adapted to be connected with an exhausting device and a rotary drum arranged Within said easing and adapted to be heated internally, and an inspissator com-- prising; a easing connected with that of said dryer and a plurality of tubes arranged Wihin said last mentioned easing and adapted to receive the liquid to be desiecated and having their outlet ends arranged adjacent to the exterior of said drum and adapted to deliver the inepissated liquid directly upon said drum, the easing and tubes of said inspissator being arranged at an angle to the vertical.

.Signed at Buffalo in the County of Erie and State of New York this 24th day of Sept., 1921.

CHARLES O. LAVETT. 

